Morning

You smack your nightstand in an attempt to disarm your clock’s wakeup call.

Your dog begins wiggling and whimpering because it is time to go “tinkle” in the backyard.

You stare at the back of your eyelids until you muster the strength to get up and brave the cold hardwood floors.

You grab your phone and check Facebook while your coffee spurts out of the Keurig.

This is morning.

You’ve been there, I’ve been there, we’ve all encountered morning. Some of us encounter morning earlier than others. Some of us even encounter morning in the afternoon. But, we all wake up.

My mother will tell you I’m not a morning person. It’s not true. I love morning and I am delightful from the second I wake up until I go to sleep. I just get through the morning slowly; I am easily distracted from my routine, I take too long eating cereal, and I brush my teeth for the full two minutes recommended by the ADA.

My slow pace must be evidence that I enjoy morning more than most. Here is a glimpse of my morning routine:

Brush my teeth (again, for the full two minutes and I urge you to do so as well)

Throw on some makeup

Throw on some clothes

Make lunch

Pet my cats and let them know I will think about them while I’m at work

Go to work

Over the years I’ve adjusted my morning routine. I’ve worked out the kinks and rearranged depending on my living situation. While working as a camp counselor, I got completely ready before breakfast and did not get to pet any cats. While in college, I did not even get ready for the day because college students are sloppy.

I like hearing about other folk’s morning routines. I like comparing my routine to theirs so I can feel superior. Additionally, morning routines reveal what is most important to a person.

Morning is the gateway from sleep to our day. What we fill morning with speaks volumes about our values. Even the length of a morning routine is a statement. What things must we do before we move on with our day? How long will we spend doing them?

Some people check Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or their email as soon as they wake up. To me, it seems as though social media is the most important thing for someone with this type of routine. Before their first yawn they are busy seeing what other people are doing and saying.

Some people skip breakfast and drink a cup of coffee. I am most mad about this one because I wake up hungry. People who skip breakfast are monsters who hate breakfast foods and care little for their metabolism.

Some people take their dog out to go to the bathroom or put food out for their pet because pets are valuable to them.

Some people workout in the morning because they care about fitness.

Some people spend two minutes getting dressed and doing their hair/makeup, others spend an hour.

Some people pray.

Some people watch the news.

Some people read.

Some people help their kids get ready for school.

Some people wake up and practice the tuba.

Some people watch morning cartoons.

The things you do when you wake up indicate what is most important to you. What are you doing with your morning?